Russian Media "Biases"

It is an interesting time to be following the Russian media and the case of Anna specifically. This past week a few articles were published concerning the biases that Russian media uses. In this article journalists accuse the Russian media of bias favoring Russia in the Russian-Georgian conflict. In another article that was published concerning the current economic status of Russia, it is obvious that the Russian people agree that the media is not covering stories as objectively as possible. Given the history and the circumstances that Russia has seen in the past regarding censorship and a media system that is not considered free from a global perspective this was to be expected. However, it is notable that specific journalists such as Julia Latinina are accusing Russia of biases directly given the fate of other journalists who have been critical of Russias policies.

The story in the link above offers little hope that Russia is leaning toward a more democratic state in which journliasts are free to be critical of the government and policies that the people of thet state may not agree with. A fair and balanced press is one of the most important and useful tools of a democracy and it is sad to see countries that do not have this freedom. Even scarier is the violence and fear described by Mikhail Beketov. He even calls the job "suicide." The biases shown in the media can be explained if that is the retaliation that can be expected with critical reporting.

Hopefully after the trial of the people responsible for the death of Anna Kachkayeva, a new light will be shined on Russia's policies towards the media and change will come and journalists will not be forced to be bias and information will flow freely in Russia. In a developed "democracy" no journalists should have to live daily life in fear because of their everyday job.


-Alexa Sell